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Original poster

'Joint CSE and O Level' exams - desperately need info on these - can anyone remember them?

40 replies

Ceebee74 · 14/02/2007 13:21

Am desperately trying to find some information on these exams - apparently they were introduced in the mid-80's for about 2 years (just before GCSE's came into existence) as a way of combining the CSE and O Level - the information I do have leads me to believe it was some kind of pilot scheme before GCSE's.
I need to find out, as they were graded by numbers rather than letters, whether a grade 3 was equivalent to a Grade C O Level or GCSE.
I cannot find any information on the Internet - they seem to have dropped into a black hole somewhere.
Can anyone help?? Please?? Or let me know where I might find the information.

OP posts:
whatkatydidntdo · 14/02/2007 13:24

I didnt know they did a joint cse + o level !
I can remember the CSE and o levels being seperate.
CSE grade 1 was equivalent to a grade C at Olevel , if that helps

oliveoil · 14/02/2007 13:25

They were called 16+

I did them [dinosaur]

iirc, whatever result you got gave you either a CSE or and O'Level

beckybrastraps · 14/02/2007 13:27

I did one in RE, in 1987 (the last year of O levels). I got two certificates - one CSE grade 1 and one O level grade. There was a coursework element. 20% I think.

Original poster
Ceebee74 · 14/02/2007 13:28

thanks for your replies - I knew that CSE grade 1 was equivalent to O level grade C but I have got a certificate in front of me that clearly states the person got a Joint CSE and O Level - grade 3 (their CSE's are listed seperately above) so they must have awarded this qualification at some point.

OP posts:
beckybrastraps · 14/02/2007 13:29

YEs, if I remember rightly, a level 1 gave an O level pass as well, which was then graded A - C.

Original poster
Ceebee74 · 14/02/2007 13:31

becky thanks - so does that mean that if this person get a level 3, then it was the equivalent of a cse level 3?

OP posts:
beckybrastraps · 14/02/2007 13:32

Is it an exam board certificate? Mine definitely gave two certificates.

Ladymuck · 14/02/2007 13:34

THey did it as a pilot in the late 70s as well again in the mid 80s when it was known as the 16+. You could get a CSE and a GCE grade, but a grade 3 would not be equivalent to a GCE grade C.

beckybrastraps · 14/02/2007 13:34

x-posted.

I couldn't swear to it, but as I said, I definitely got a separate O level certificate, and I only ever give my O level grade. Or at least I did - my performance in O level RE is neither here nor there now really...

Original poster
Ceebee74 · 14/02/2007 14:01

Ladymuck - that makes sense as my colleague claims she did one in 1982 whereas the person in questiondid it in 1986.

Becky - it is a replacement certificate from the AQA who issue replacement certificates these days.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ceebee74 · 14/02/2007 14:02

The problem is I need hard evidence to prove it is not equivalent as the person is adamant that a Grade 3 is equivalent to a grade C and their promotion depends on it!

OP posts:
beckybrastraps · 14/02/2007 14:02

Can you email AQA and ask?

beckybrastraps · 14/02/2007 14:04

Or phone. Exam boards can work rather slowly IME.

Original poster
Ceebee74 · 14/02/2007 14:06

I think i will do that - thanks a lot

Don't you just love MN - you can ask about anything and get a good response

OP posts:
juuule · 14/02/2007 14:41

I did CSEs. Grade 1 was equivalent to a grade C O'level. You received a certificate with the CSE grades on and a separate certificate for the O'level.

abgirl · 15/02/2007 10:12

The number for AQA is 01483 506506 - ask for Debbie MacIntosh. (I work for them!!)

busy2busy · 16/02/2007 01:52

I sat one of these exams in 1983 in Latin. It it was an experiment and had just started.

To my recollection the O'level grades were still A,B,C as usual etc, then you had the CSC grades 1,2,3. But is was just one paper.

You actually got two certificates in the end one stating your o level grade and one the CSC grade. (which was a bit odd because if you got an A grade O level you still got a CSC grade 1 cert - which was almost irrelevent if you passed the o level).

I would say a grade 3 would be a CSC grade three - that is not an o level (which had to be a grade 1 to be an equivelent).

Hope this helps. Not sure if this is a good or a bad answer for the promotion?

Jelley · 16/02/2007 06:46

I did three or four of them in 1986.
You definitely needed grade 1 CSE to get on O level pass.
Grade 3 is grade 3 cse only

chestnutty · 16/02/2007 21:52

Did English, maths, biology and chemistry as 16+ in 1985. My other exams were 'o'levels.
Agree with previous posts a grade 3 would be cse 3.I got a D for English and a cse 2. I retook it as an 'o' level in the November and got a C.
Think the board was JMB.

QueenEagle · 16/02/2007 22:07

I took O levels in the last year they existed which was 1986. As others have said a CSE grade 1 was equiv to a grade C O level. You were awarded both a cse certificate AND an O Level certificate. The cse cert would say you had a 3. the O level cert would say you had a C.

It followed also that:
D grade O level = grade 2 cse
E grade O level = grade 3 cse

I think that after that it gave you an ungraded mark for O level but you were awarded cse 4 and 5.

QueenEagle · 16/02/2007 22:08

"The cse cert would say you had a 3."

Sorry, this should read: the cse cert would say you had a 1.

gothicmama · 16/02/2007 22:10

I took joint in 1986 cse 1= grade c or above
cse2 grade d
cse3 grade e

SueW · 16/02/2007 22:29

Bllody hell I can't believe a promotion in 2007 depends on what CSE grade someone got in the mid-80s. That's utterly ridiculous.

Molesworth · 16/02/2007 22:31

As far as I remember (I took my O Levels in 84-85) a grade 1 CSE was equivalent to a grade C O level

Molesworth · 16/02/2007 22:31

And yes it is ridiculous!